The National Youth Service (NYS) programme initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) is designed to assist in the implementation of the Youth into Science Strategy, in addition to the broad aims of the Government’s NYS programme, by providing young graduates to work at the Science Centres, and training them in science awareness work. According to agreement, the NSTF is the Coordinating Institution for the DST NYS. Science and engineering graduates are placed at the NSTF office as well as at 21 other Host Institutions, being mainly Science Centres, in all nine provinces. The NYS programme has been running since the end of 2007.

The Cabinet adopted the Youth into Science strategy in March 2007 as a tool to encourage participation of Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. The strategy targets mainly school-going youth and undergraduate students in STEM. It also supports people who are involved in recruiting more youth to pursuing their careers in STEM and contributing towards improved learner performance in these careers. One of the challenges facing the science system is the need to speedily renew human capital in science, engineering and technology. A key intervention for achieving this goal is the Youth into Science Strategy.

Last updated: 9 November 2009